Bandage package



July 2, 1946- c. STEENBERGEN BANDAGE PACKAG E Fi1ed Feb. 14, 1944Patented July 2, 1946 i BANDAGE memos Application February 14, 1944,Serial No. 522,309

9 Claims. 3

This invention is concerned with a package of surgical dressingcomprising gauze or like material in which the dressing is providedwithin an enclosing wrapper and with the inclusion of means forpreparing the same for easy and convenient withdrawal as an incident ofthe opening of the wrapper.

The invention is particularly valuable for employment under conditionswhere the dressing comprises a carrier fabric, such as gauze,impregnated with an unctuous,.-pasty, semi-liquid or jelly-likesubstance such as petroleum jelly, a fatty ointment, or a viscousaqueous emulsion, either with or without medicaments: such impregnantsor saturants will be herein termed adherent liquids because they remainadherent to the carrier when the latter is Withdrawn for use.

In the illustrative form of practicing the invention, the dressingpackage is substantially flat and flexible and comprises the foldedgauze or carrier fabric within a tightly sealed wrapper or envelope offlexible, tearable material, where with the dressing itself is protectedagainst penetration of contamination such as infective mat ter: and withthe advantage, in the event of employment of petroleum jelly or likefluid saturants, of preventing seepage or leakage of such saturants. Thedisclosing means is effective for bringing an end of the gauze or fabricinto a position, incidental to the opening of the envelope or wrapper,in which this gauze or fabric may be easily seized for withdrawal.

With these and other features in view, as will appear in the course ofthe following description and claims, the selected illustrative form isset forth on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view. indicating the folding of the dressingfabric and the positioning of the disclosing strip therein.

Figures 2 and 2a are perspective views indicating the folding andpartial sealing of a wrapper around the pile of folded fabric to providean open-ended envelope.

Figure 3 is a perspective view conventionally illustrating theintroduction of molten petrolatum into the envelope for saturating thepile of fabric located therein. 1

Figure 4 is an elevation of the face of the completed package.

Figure 5 is a conventionalized cross-section through the same, on alarger scale, substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the package. after opening amargin thereof.

(Cl. zoo-63.2)

In the drawing, a strip of fabric such as surgical absorbent gauze,muslin, calico, percale, or the like, and composed of staple orfilamentary yarns of cellulosic, protelnaceous or synthetic 5 fibers, isfolded in zigzag or plaited fashion, so that it can be pulled out to astraight line by tension along its length. In the illustrated form, thezigzag is providedby alternation of long and short folds to provide apile ill of superposed 10 layers as shown in Figure 1, having asubstantially trapezoidal cross-section (Figures 2 and 5) aseachsuccessive doubled edge extends farther toward the left than acorresponding doubled edge above it. The upper and right handfree i5edge in Figure 1 is shown as folded back to provide a fold l i in whichis inserted a withdrawing thread 82. The left hand or lower free edge i3projects beyond the doubled edge immediately above it, to completethestep-wise arrangement of the left hand edges, as illustrated.

This folding is described and claimed in the Peal and Emery applicationSerial No.-52l,690, filed February 9, 1944. I

The withdrawing thread may be formed fro a staple yarn, a filament yarn,a monoiilament, or a strip of material; and formed of cotton, linen,silk, synthetic silk, regenerated cellulose, metal or like materialwhich is resistantt o the conditions of normal employment, and resistantto the saturating substance if such be used, and has the tensilestrength requisite for effecting withdrawal or unfolding.

This pile it is then enclosed and tightly sealed in a protectiveenvelope.

In the illustrative form of practice, the envelope is formed around thepile by placing the pile it upon a sheet of flexible, tearable,grease-proof, foil-like material such as regenerated cellulose,varnished paper, metallic foil, etc., capable of pre- 40 venting entryof contamination to the pile, which material'is then foldedsubstantially at the lines l6 indicated 'by dash lines and in the mannershown by the arrows, to provide a flattened tubu- ,lar structure, withthe panel l'l lying closely upon the pile ill but not extending over theentire area of the fabric near the free edge i3. The panel i8 at theopposite margin of the sheet is then folded on top of the panel I? andsecured thereto throughout their lengths. As shown, the free edge I 3 ofthe fabric strip is rebent and received between the panels il, IE, butis not fixed there;

to. One end of the tube. including the panel i9. is likewise sealed sothat the lips are closed; and this seal engages and holds thecorresponding end of the disclosing thread, but preferably this threadaeoaasa does not extend to the end of the tube. This sealed end may thenbe folded over, for example, about-the folding line 18a, and is likewisesecured in this position; thus providing a refolded end.

The package, thus far prepared, has the pile ill within the open-endedenvelope as shown in Figure 2a. It will be noted that one end of thedisclosing thread if projects beyond the pile l and is received betweenthe panels H and is, and is detained in such position by the adhesivewhich is employed for closing and sealing the envelope at such endthereof; but preferably does not extend to the margin of the originalsheet (see Figure 2).

The assembly of the pile l9, with its open-ended envelope, is thensubjected to a sterilizing operation, for example, by hot steam in anautoclave.

The envelope thus prepared is represented by E in Figure 3, and is thenpositioned with its open end upward and molten petroleum jelly isintroduced as by a funnel 25, using a predetermined quantity of thispetroleum jelly corresponding, for example, to 250 to 400 percent of theweight of the fabric. It is preferred in practice to accomplish thisoperation in a chamber for maintaining sterility of the partly formedpackage E and of the petroleum jelly.

The funnel 2B is withdrawn and the lips at the open end of the envelopeare brought together and sealed, whereby a packa e is obtained as shownin Figure 4, in which this seal is indicated by the dottedcross-hatching 28. The pile iii of folded fabric, now saturated withpetroleum jelly, is shown by dash lines, and the edge of the rebent foldI l is shown by dash and-dot lines. The d sclosing thread I! is shown bydotted lines, and it will be noted that, as in Figure 4, the right handend of this disclosing thread is preferably caught within the refoldedportion of the envelope at the panel 58, while the left hand end extendsinto the cemented area 26 but does not extend to the outside of thepackage, whereby wicking is prevented but the ends of this thread aresecurelyflxed to the wrapper or envelope. It is preferred to provide anick or notch 27 for initiating the tearing operation in the opening,this notch bein formed at the margins of the sealed lips at a pointsion, or which provide a nutrient substrate for organisms. Thusdissolved, hot-fluid or hot-tacky organic bodies such as celluloseethers and esters. phenolic and other resins, and the like may be used;and these have been found effective even when petroleum Jelly is used asa saturant, as they form tight seals against leakage thereof. When metalfoil is used, it may also be secured by welding or soldering.

Further, the invention includes, the employment of an envelope offlexible sheet material which becomes cohesive upon heating, so that theenvelope may be formed and sealed by heating and pressing portions ofthe material together. Suitable substances of this class are organicplastics of high molecular weight which formfiexible sheets and becomethermoplastic, pressure-sensitive and self-adherent upon heating to atemperature of, say, 250 degrees F., and have satisfactory strength andresistance characteristics, such as vinyl, acryiate and halo-acrylateresins, and the hydrocarbon-resistant synthetic elastomers of butadienecondensation. High molecular weight vinyl resins may be formed intoflexible sheets, and used for envelopes to contain petroleum jelly orother greases. With such materials, the parts to be joined are heated tothe pressure-sensitive condition, and then pressed together and allowedto cool.

In employing the package, the thin, protective, tcarable and flexiblematerial of the envelope can be torn by starting at the notch 21 andpullin the material so that it begins to rip in the general directiondesignated by the dash-dotted line 27a extending from the notch 27 inFigure 4. The

tearing of the envelope is continued until the entire edge has been tornaway, being the bottom end in Figure 4. This tearing, is illustrated asrelatively inward from the position of the disclosing thread l2, andhaving its end within the area 28 of the sealed lips of the package.

The securing of parts of the envelope together may be accomplished invarious ways. Thus, the entire surface of the wrapper sheet may beoriginally supplied with a heat-sealing coating, and

the securing of panels l1, IE to form the tube, the

scaling at the panel I! and the securing of the refolding end, as wellas the final closing of the open end, may all be accomplished byappropriate heating means for temporarily softening the coating to atacky adhesive condition while exerting pressure upon the contactingparts. It will be noted that when the refolding of the panel I 9 isomitted, the wrapper material need only be coated at the inner side.Further, it is included within this invention to employ a' wrappermaterial which does not become adhesive upon heating and to accomplishthe securing of the parts by application of an adhesive :materialdirectly to the sheet as an incident to the shaping and assembly.Suitable adhesives are those of types presently employed in securing toether sheets of regenerated cellulose, metallic foil, etc., and

, should be selected as providing a; flexible joint,

withexclusicn of substances which may weaken under atmosphericconditions or water-immcr occurring through both sides of the envelope,being essentially along the straight line 27a; and the notch 21 preparesthe envelope for such rupture essentially parallel to the doubled foldsand remote from the step-wise offset doubled folds at the left in Figure5, so that tension may be exerted along the partly-withdrawn strip as described hereafter, while employing the envelope to prevent contact withparts of the carrier which have not yet been withdrawn.

. As the disclosing thread I2 is fixed to the material of the portion ofthe envelope which is thus torn away, it acts somewhat like a bow stringto a draw or extravert the rebent fold ii and pull it out of thepackage, from the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 into theposition shown by dotted lines in this figure. and thus into theposition' indicated in Figure 6.

This removal of the edge of the envelope therefore permits the user toseize the extraverted fold it with sterile forceps F and pull thefabric, with its saturation of the petroleum jelly therein and thereon,out of the residue of the envelope E.

It will be understood that the thickness and separation of the materialsof the carrier strip and envelope of the preferred package have beenexaggerated in the drawing for clearness of description; and that in thepreferred practice the materials may be very thin so that a flat packageis produced. Thus, the employment of flexible wrapping material. for theenvelope permits the latter to-conform closely to the carrier strip inits folded condition.

By reason of the arrangement of the successive zigzag folds or doublelayers, the operator can press upon the flexible wrapper with hisfinger, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, thereb exerting sufficientdetaining pressure upon the folds so that the fabric is detained whilethe envelop margin is being torn away, and then the fabric can be drawnout successively and the desired endwise tension can be exerted forassuring that the strip is fully extended as it is applied: and it willbe noted that the strip can be drawn forth by one or more double layersat a time and the tensioned length thus obtained is engaged with thepatient's arm, for example, and the residue of the package passed aroundthe arm successively as further folds are withdrawn, thus avoidingpossible contact of the sticky strip with extemal objects during thecourse of application.

By slipping the upper finger (Figures and 6) successively toward theleft, the double folds are successively released so that they may bedrawn out and expanded.

It will be noted that if the other free end l3 be engaged between thepanels l1, Hi, this Will permit a. further tension to be exerted uponthe bandage when all of the rebent folds have been withdrawn from theenvelope, and this free edge l3 will be released when the pressure bythe finger is removed and the extreme edge 30 of the envelope employedfor pulling the residue of the envelope E from the end l3 of thebandage.

' In the-illustrative form, for example, the compact, fiat package maycontain about 30 inches of absorbent gauze of a width of 3 inches andformed with successive folds which are offset about 5 of an inch, so'that the folds have an average width of about 1 /8 inch. The wrapper(Figure 2) was provided by a rectangular sheet of regenerated cellulosehaving a' thickness of about 0.001 inch and an area of 4 by 4% inches.When in the position shown in Figure 3. the pile of folded dressingfabric was located to extend upwardly from the lower end of theenvelope-and to leave an unoccupied open end about inch deep. Thedisclosing thread employed for this illustrative practice was about 3%inches long. thus being less than the corresponding dimension of thewrapper sheet it. The material used for.

the wrapper sheet has been found to be easily tearable preparatory touse of the bandage strip: but, due to its flexibility. it issubstantially free of accidental damage by which the petroleum jelly mayleak out or by which any infective matter may gain access into theenvelope.

In preparing this package, an essentially sterilized gauze was employedof the type known in the United States'Pharmacopoeia, Twelfth Revision,as Type I, .absorbent gauze, of cotton staple and having 44 warp threadsper inch of width and either 36 or 40 filling threads per linear inch,as the interstices between threads of such a gauze have been foundexcellently adapted for remaining substantially filled with petrolatumupon withdrawal from the package.

In thi illustrative form of practice, the -band-. age was saturated orimpregnated with a semiliquid or jelly-like material, specificallypetroleum jelly or petrolatum described in the United StatesPharmacopoeia, Twelfth Revision, having a speciflic gravity between0.815 and 0.865 at 60 degrees C., with a standardized melting point es-'sentially between 100 and 140 degrees F.- This petrolatum remains shiftat 30 degrees F. and below, sothat it i ready for immediate use underall normal conditions of application to the'flesh:

and has essentially the characteristics of a soft,

plastic mass of microcrystalline structures em-' on and in theindividual fold of the fabric so that the operation of separating thesefolds from their superposed zigzag position brings the strip I into anextended condition having a substantially continuous saturation andcoating of petrolatum thereon.

It is preferred to establish the pile of folded fabric and then toprovide the same with a wrapper, and to sterilize the semi-assembledpackage in this condition, as this permits the employment of relativelyhigh steam temperatures without difficulty, and assures a definitelysterile condition. Onthe other hand, the procedure of manufacture ofpetroleum jelly, in separating it from other petroleum components orfractions, together with subsequent refining operations, effects athorough sterilization thereof, and any infection is normally a resultof condition subsequent to the preparation. Such minor possibilitie ofsubsequent infection may be circumvented by substantial treatment of thefinished petrolatum with steam under pressure and then maintaining it ina closed system until actually filled into the package.

By bringing the sterile petroleum jelly into the sterilized,partly-assembled package under sterile conditions. and then closing andsealing the lips of the package under sterile conditions, the bandage isthus itself freed from contamination of bacterial nature and does notrequire further. sterilization prior to use..

It will be understood that the illustrative forms of practice areexplanatory and are not limiting, and that the invention may be employedin many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by ternal contamination with a margin of the envelopelying adjacent to said fabric bight, and'a thread located within saidbight with its ends extending beyond the lateral edges of the foldedstrip and secured to the envelope next to its margin whereby, upontearing the margin of said envelope and compressing the envelope uponthe said second portion, the thread may be pulled and caused to draw outthe said first portion of the strip to bring the said end of the stripinto a position beyond the torn lip of the envelope while leaving thesaid second portion within the package. I

2. A surgical bandage package, comprising a plaited strip of fabric, anend'portion thereof having an edge folded to form a bight, the striphaving a second portion extending inwardly from the said first portion,a tearable protective envelopeenclosing and tightly sealing the stripagainst external contamination with a margin of the envelope lyingadjacent to said fabric bight, said envelope having sealing portionsadjacent the lateral edges of the folded strip. and a thread 10- catedin'said bight with its ends extending beyond the lateral edges of thefolded strip and engaged within sealing portions of said envelope.whereby upon compressing the envelope upon the said second portion andtearing off part of a sealing portion and the margin of said envelope,the thread is pulled and caused to draw out the said r 7 first portionof the strip to bring the said end of the strip into a position beyondthe torn lip of the envelope while leaving the said second portionwithin the package.

3. A surgical bandage package, comprising a plaited strip of fabric, anend portion of the fabric thereof having an edge folded to form a bight,the strip having a second portion extending inwardly from the said firstportion, a tearable protective envelope enclosing and tightly sealingthe strip against external contamination, said envelope having oppositefaces of substantially rectangular form with sealing portions adjacentthe lateral edges of the folded strip, and a thread located in saidbight and extending beyond the lateral edges of the folded strip andsecured at its ends in the sealing portions thereof adjacent the cornersof said face which are located adjacent said bight, whereby in theoperation of tearing off a portion including said corners from saidenvelope, the thread is held by the torn-off portion and caused topullout the said first portion to bring the said end of the strip into aposition beyond the torn lip of the envelope while leaving the saidsecond portion within the package.

4. A surgical bandage package, comprising a plaited strip of fabric, anend portion thereof having an edge folded to form a bight, the striphaving a second portion extending inwardly from the said first portion,a protective envelope of tearable material enclosing and tightly sealingthe fabric, with a margin lying adjacent to said fabric bight and athread located in said fabric bight and having its ends extended beyondthe edges of said strip and fixedly connected to said envelope adjacentthe proximate corners thereof, whereby upon tearing said envelopeparallel to said margin to separate a marginal portion including saidcorners, the thread is pulled and caused to draw out the said firstportion of the strip to bring the said end of the strip intda positionbeyond the torn lip of the envelope while leaving the said secondportion within the package.

5. A surgical bandage package, comprising a plaited strip of fabric, anend portion thereof pile of fabric against external contaminationthereto, said envelope having corners adjacent the ends of said bight,and a thread loosely located in said bight, the wrapper being notchedfor tearing detachment of a portion thereof in-' eluding said corners asan incident of preparing bring the said end of the strip into a positionbeyond the torn lip of the envelope while leaving the said secondportion within the package.

'7. A surgical bandage package, comprising a strip of fabric plaited toform a pile, an end portion thereof having an edge folded to form ablg'ht, the strip having a second portion extendhaving an edge folded toform a bight, the strip having a second portion extending inwardly fromthe said first portion, a flexible envelope of tearable materialenclosing and tightly sealing the fabric, said envelope having cornersadjacent the ends of said bight, and a thread located in said bight withits ends extended beyond the edges of said strip and fixedly connectedto the material of the envelope adjacent a margin thereof which ibetween said corners and ad- ,iacent and parallel to said bight, saidenvelope having a notch formed at its end at a point spaced from saidmargin and with the'adjacent end of the strip secured between said notchand said a bight, the strip having a second portion extending inwardlyfrom the said first portion, a tearable wrapper enclosing and tightlysealing the portion thereof having an edge folded to form ing inwardlyfrom the said first portion, an adherent liquid material saturating saidfabric, and

an envelope of flexible material enclosing and t tightly sealing thefolded pile of fabric and said liquid material against externalcontamination, the seals of said envelope including opposite endportions formed of contacting areas joined togather and extending alongthe lateral edges of the strip, a thread located in said bight andhaving its ends projecting from the pile and fixedly connected to thematerial of the envelope ad- Jacent the margin thereof which extendsfrom one envelope end portion to the other and is located adjacent saidbight, said envelope material and its seals being impervious to saidliquid material, said ends of the thread terminating and being fastenedwithin the said Joined contacting areas whereby loss of the liquidmaterial along said thread is prevented, whereby upon tearing theenvelope along a line extending parallel to said margin, the separationof the torn portion including said margin and at least one of saidthread connection will cause the thread to pull out the said fabric endportion to bring the said .end of the strip into a position beyond thetorn lip of the envelope while leaving the said second 1 portion withinthe package.

8. A surgical bandage package, comprised of a strip of fabric plaited toform a pile, an end por-- tion thereof having an edge folded to form abight, the strip having a second portion extending inwardly from thesaid first portion, petroleum jelly saturating said fabric, and anenvelope of flexible grease-proof material enclosing and tightly sealingthe folded pile of fabric and the jelly against external contamination,the seals of said envelope including opposite end portions formed ofcontacting areas-joined together and extending along the lateral edgesof the strip, a thread located in said bight and having its endsprojecting from the pile and fixedly connected to the material of theenvelope adiacentthe margin thereof which extends from one envelope endportion to the other and is located adjacent said bight, said envelopehaving a notch formed at and terminating in one end portion at a pointspaced from said margin inwardly of said thread end so that the end ofthe thread is located between said notch and said margin,- said ends ofthe thread terrninating within the said joined contacting areas wherebyloss of the greasy material along said thread is prevented; whereby upontearing the en velope along a line extending from said notch parallel tosaid margin, the separation of the torn portion including said marginand at least one of said thread connections will cause the thread topull out the said end portion to bring the end 0! the strip into aposition beyond the I 10 bight, and a thread in said bight and havingits ends secured to portions of the protective envelope whereby upontearing away said portions of the envelope and forming an openingtherebe- 5 ,tween the thread is caused to effect unfolding andprojection of said one end of the folded strip.

CHARLES STEENBERGEN.

